Off wing evacuation system control strap

Abstract

A movement control strap for an off-wing evacuation system is disclosed. The strap is coupled between the ramp and slide, and engages with the edge of the wing. The strap stabilizes the evacuation system by providing a tensioning force to control movement of the ramp and slide. The strap assembly utilizes the edge of the wing as a leverage point for extra tensioning and control of the system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A movement controlled off-wing evacuation system comprising:
 an aircraft having a wing; 
 a ramp; 
 a slide extending from said ramp; and 
 a movement control strap coupled between said ramp and said slide, 
 said movement control strap comprising a first portion attached to said ramp at a ramp anchoring point, a second portion attached to said slide at a slide anchoring point, and a third portion between said first portion and said second portion, 
 wherein said third portion is configured to anchor with the wing of the aircraft at a wing anchoring point. 
 
     
     
       2. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 1 , wherein
 said ramp anchoring point is at an underside of said ramp; and 
 said slide anchoring point is at an underside of said slide. 
 
     
     
       3. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 1 , said first portion comprising a loop patch for attachment to said ramp, and said second portion comprising a loop patch for attachment to said slide, said first portion and said second portion being opposite ends of said movement control strap. 
     
     
       4. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 1 , said ramp comprising a walking portion having a ramp leading edge forming a ramp entrance, wherein said ramp anchoring point is at said ramp leading edge. 
     
     
       5. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 4 , said ramp anchoring point is centered about said ramp leading edge. 
     
     
       6. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 4 , said ramp leading edge configured to substantially rest upon the wing including a wing edge, said ramp further comprising a ramp trailing edge opposite said ramp leading edge, wherein said ramp trailing edge is configured to be suspended above said wing edge. 
     
     
       7. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 1 , said slide comprising a lower slide edge and an upper slide edge, forming a sliding portion there between, wherein said slide anchoring point is below said upper slide edge. 
     
     
       8. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 1 , said wing comprising a wing trailing edge, wherein said wing engagement point is at said wing trailing edge. 
     
     
       9. The movement controlled off-wing evacuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp and the slide are components of a continuous inflatable unit. 
     
     
       10. An off wing evacuation method for an aircraft, the aircraft including an aircraft wing, comprising:
 coupling a first portion of a movement control strap to an underside of an evacuation ramp; 
 coupling a second portion of said movement control strap to an underside of an evacuation slide, wherein said evacuation ramp and said evacuation slide form a continuous inflatable unit; and 
 anchoring a third portion of said movement control strap to an edge of the aircraft wing,
 wherein said third portion of the movement control strap is located between said first portion and said second portion of the movement control strap. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , said evacuation ramp having a ramp leading edge forming a ramp entrance, wherein said movement control strap is coupled to said ramp leading edge. 
     
     
       12. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 11 , the aircraft wing including a wing trailing edge, the off wing evacuation method further comprising engaging said third portion of said movement control strap at said wing trailing edge. 
     
     
       13. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , said evacuation ramp having a ramp leading edge forming a ramp entrance, further comprising:
 positioning said evacuation ramp upon the aircraft wing, wherein said ramp leading edge is positioned to substantially rest upon the aircraft wing; and 
 anchoring said ramp leading edge to the aircraft wing via said movement control strap. 
 
     
     
       14. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 13 , said evacuation ramp further comprising a ramp trailing edge opposite said ramp leading edge, the aircraft wing including a wing edge,
 further comprising positioning said ramp trailing edge to be suspended above said wing edge; and 
 positioning said movement control strap to engage with said wing edge. 
 
     
     
       15. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , said slide comprising a lower slide edge and an upper slide edge, forming a sliding portion therebetween, further comprising coupling said second portion of said movement control strap below said upper slide edge. 
     
     
       16. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , said sliding portion further being centered between a first slide rail of said slide and a second slide rail of said slide, further comprising coupling said second portion of said movement control strap to at least one of said first slide rail or said second slide rail. 
     
     
       17. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , the aircraft wing comprising a wing trailing edge, further comprising positioning said movement control strap to engage with said wing trailing edge. 
     
     
       18. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , said movement control strap comprising a-loop patches for said coupling. 
     
     
       19. The off wing evacuation method of  claim 10 , said ramp comprising rails.